lifestyle
Cost, Access and Everything You Need to Know Before Going
New fees and shuttle rules hit Sunshine Coast trails and markets this winter.
How we reported this
Adult entry to Buderim Forest Park rose to $12 on 1 July under the latest Sunshine Coast Council schedule.
The change arrives as July visitor counts climb each year and parking spaces at trailheads fill by 9am on weekends. Families and day-trippers now weigh the fee against fuel and time when choosing between the hinterland and the coast.
Local access points
Two main gateways serve most winter visitors. The Maroochy River markets at Cotton Tree operate every Sunday from 7am, with free street parking along Duporth Avenue until 10am. The Noosa National Park coastal track starts at the end of Hastings Street, where the council runs a timed-entry system on its website to limit daily numbers to 800.
Both sites sit inside the Sunshine Coast Council area and fall under the same transport levy introduced last year. A $4.50 return shuttle from Maroochydore station now runs to the Buderim trailhead on Saturdays and Sundays.
Prices and numbers
Council data released in May showed 248,000 paid entries across hinterland parks in the 2025 financial year. Current winter packages list a two-hour guided walk at $45 for adults and $22 for children, bookable through the Sunshine Coast Tourism website. Private operators at Noosa add a $15 river ferry surcharge for tours that finish after 4pm.
Check the council app the night before for real-time parking counts at Cotton Tree and Hastings Street. Book the shuttle at least 48 hours ahead if arriving by train. Carry exact change for the park gate if the card reader is offline, and allow an extra 30 minutes for the new security check at the Noosa track entrance.